Meet UK Preferred Walk-On Cole Mosier

Cole Mosier is an imposing figure at 6-foot 6, 320 lbs. An offensive lineman, when people ask about his favorite part of football, he simply says, “I love hitting people.” Even so, off the field he does not use his build and strength to bully or intimated others. He chooses to lead. He was the football team captain at Walton-Verona High School, described by head coach Jeff Barth as an excellent young man. “He makes good decisions,” Barth said, “He has had no disciplinary issues and you never question his work ethic.” Mosier is a leader on and off the field, respected by both teammates and classmates.

Going into Mosier’s freshman year, Walton Verona had only had a varsity football program for one year, so he had chances to play at bigger high schools in the area. But Mosier chose to build something at the smaller school. Now, he is choosing to join new UK head coach Mark Stoops to try to build something at Kentucky.

Despite getting looks from other Division 1 schools including Cincinnati, and Miami of Ohio, the only opportunity to get a full ride was to go to an NAIA school such as or Lindsay Wilson. Mosier wanted more. Upon returning from a visit to one of the smaller schools, Mosier told his coach, “I don’t want to be an NAIA player; I want to play big time football.”

His chance came when new offensive line coach John Schlarman contacted Barth. Schlarman liked Cole’s big frame and his ability to move, and asked if Cole had signed with anyone yet. Soon after learning that Mosier was still uncommitted, Schlarman offered a preferred walk-on spot with the Cats. Mosier decided to take Schlarman up on his offer as he puts it, “I just wanted to play as big as I could.” (Being a preferred walk-on allows a player to participate with the team once on campus, instead of having to go through a try-out.)

Cole Mosier and Family on Signing Day

Part of the reason that there was not more interest in Mosier was a knee injury he suffered during his sophomore year while playing basketball, which kept him out the summer before his junior year. This caused him to missed summer football workouts, and key opportunities to make a name for himself. Now 100% healthy, Mosier chose UK because he wants to play against the best of the best and, other than the NFL, he believes the SEC is the place to do that.

Mosier lead Walton Verona High School to a 10-3 record his senior year, including an eight game winning streak, the school’s first district championship and a trip to the Regional 2A finals, losing to eventual state champion Newport Central Catholic. Mosier was the foundation of a team that grew from 2-8 his freshman year into the district champ his senior year. This experience will come in handy, going to a Kentucky team that only won two games last season.

“Besides his obvious size and strength, he has great football savvy,” Barth said, “a nose for the ball and was a like coach on the field for us this year.” Mosier won a number of awards his senior year, including the Anthony Munoz Foundation Offensive Lineman of the Year in Northern Kentucky. Anthony Munoz, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle who starred for the Cincinnati Bengals, is also his favorite player and someone who he tries to model his game after.

Mosier says he’s impressed by the new UK coaches, he said, “it’s amazing how much has changed in the (short) time they have been there.” Barth described the new regime in Lexington as having a “good vibe.” Mosier knows he is going to be challenged but says that is part of what drew him to Kentucky. He was told, by the UK coaches, that he has a chance to earn a spot on the depth chart and then play his way up.

The experience of building Walton-Verona will be put to use, by Mosier, to help rebuild UK football. He said turning a program around and building a program have the same characteristics: You have to go through adversity but you have find your leaders so you can reach success.

Mosier didn’t settle for NAIA football. When he got the chance, he chose to play in the best conference in the country. He sees, as Mark Stoops did, good things in the future for UK football, telling fans, “Be excited. It is on the up rise. UK won’t just be a basketball school anymore.”

Full Interview

Cole want to add the following message after the interview, “I give thanks to my family and coaching staff for everything, I couldn’t have done it without then. Also thanks to Dan Ryan with All-American Training Center for getting me ready to have a chance to play for a big time school.”

Cole Mosier Highlights

From Gotgamevideo.com

Full list of Cole’s accomplishments and awards his Senior year

Anthony Munoz Foundation Offensive Lineman of the Year in Northern Kentucky.

AP Honorable Mention All-State for both offensive and defensive line.

Kentucky Enquirer All-Star 1st team for both offensive and defensive line.

Finalist for WCPO News Channel 9/ Tristatefootball.com Defensive Player of the Year in Northern Kentucky.

(School) Most Valuable Defensive Player, Most Valuable Lineman, Most Valuable Player

Anchored the offensivevline for a team who scored 34.4 pts/game & averaged 304.7 yards per game